New year brings changes to campus

Changes in Dining Services and less travelled areas on campus may not be as obvious as a flooded field or a new science building, however, they can be just as significant.

Dining Services has been revamped for the new school year with changes in the cafeteria, Marty’s, Oneota and the C-Store.

In the cafeteria the seating and tables were changed from rows to diagonal lines. This changes the aesthetic of the dining area, prompting Jon Koch (‘12) to call the arrangement “ravishing,” but some students are less than thrilled.

“It’s probably just because it’s different, but so far I don’t like it,” said Jaclyn Ohnemus (‘11).

Melanie Massnick (‘11) calls the new set up “very difficult to maneuver.”

Warren Palm, director of Dining Services, could not be reached for comment on alterations within the cafeteria.

Another dining esablishment on campus, the C-Store located in Marty’s, has added many new and practical products.

The C-store now sells items like laundry detergent and soap, foods like Ramen Noodles and Hot Pockets, and select sandwiches from Marty’s. and “even pickles in a bag,” said Erin Digman (‘09).

A big changeto both Marty’s and Oneota is the expanded meal transfer hours. Stacy Shanks, an employee of Marty’s, hopes these longer hours will help her co-workers.

“It was always very busy during meal transfer times,” said Shanks. “Hopefully it’ll make things easier for us.”

Shanks also pointed out some other modifications in Marty’s. “We’ll have rotating salads, hummus, pasta—whatever Chef Nic feels like creating.”

The price limits of meal transfers in Marty’s and Oneota have gone up. One meal transfer is now equivalent to $4.50, as opposed to $3.75 last year. This gives students more options per meal transfer.

“I love that Oneota and Marty’s have meal transfers all the time,” said Kari Houghtaling (‘11). Dining services also altered the cafeteria dinner hours, staying open later and adding more local food to the menus.

Dining services is not the only agency making changes on campus. Facilities has been working on projects to make transportation routes on campus more efficient.

Rich Tenneson, director of Facilities Services, commented on the disappearance of the road that used to run behind Campus House. The road is now covered with sod.

“It’s all part of the campus master plan,” said Tenneson. “We want to keep a circular path for vehicles around the perimeter of campus.”

Diane Tacke, vice president for finance and administration, had some insight into this idea.

“It’s all part of preserving Jenson’s 1930’s philosophy” for campus, Tacke said. Jens Jenson’s philosophy was centered on open, green space on campus property.

Other changes made by Facilities include landscaping around the new laboratory building, road additions on the College Drive entrance and a fleet of “green” security and Facilities vehicles.

While Luther plans for an environmentally friendly future, there are also other projects in the planning stages around campus. Tacke said there is a plan to renovate Valders and remodel Miller and Dieseth Halls.

“We need to take constructive criticism that we hear from students and fix their concerns,” said Tacke.